Westward Expansion, 1820–1860 Chapter 13 The American Nation Copyright © 2003 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.

Chapter 13: Westward Expansion, 1820–1860 The American Nation Chapter 13: Westward Expansion, 1820–1860 Section 1: Oregon Country Section 2: The Republic of Texas Section 3: California and the Southwest Section 4: The Mexican War Section 5: Americas Rush West Copyright © 2003 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.

Oregon Country Chapter 13, Section 1 Why were settlers and trappers attracted to Oregon and the Far West? How did mountain men help explore lands in the Far West? What role did missionaries play in the settlement of Oregon? What hardships did settlers face on wagon trains to the West?

Settlers and Trappers Were Attracted to Oregon Chapter 13, Section 1 Oregon Country—a huge region west of the Rocky Mountains that included present-day Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and parts of Wyoming, Montana, and western Canada. Good farmland along the Pacific coast attracted farmers. Fertile soil Mild temperatures year round Plentiful rainfall Forests further inland and in the Rocky Mountains attracted fur trappers. Beavers and other fur-bearing animals At first, four countries claimed Oregon—United States, Great Britain, Spain, and Russia. Later, Spain and Russia dropped their claims.

Settlers and Trappers Were Attracted to Oregon Chapter 13, Section 1

Mountain Men in the Far West Chapter 13, Section 1 The China trade: New England merchants stopped along the Oregon coast to buy furs to sell in China. The mountain men: These rugged individualists—people who follow their own independent course in life—led dangerous lives. They faced long, cold winters, wild animals, and hunger. Often they learned trapping and hunting skills from Indians. The fur trade: During fall and spring, mountain men tended their traps. Then in July, many mountain men headed for a rendezvous—a French word meaning “get-together”—at a place chosen the year before. There they met with traders, who bought the furs. Famous mountain men: In their search for furs, mountain men explored parts of the West, then showed settlers the way. Jedediah Smith, Manuel Lisa, and James Beckwourth were some well-known mountain men.

Missionaries in Oregon Chapter 13, Section 1 The first white Americans to settle permanently in Oregon Country were missionaries, including Marcus and Narcissa Whitman. The Whitmans built a mission near the Columbia River. They worked with the Cayuse Indians. Soon other missionaries and settlers joined them. Missionaries attracted more settlers when they sent glowing reports about Oregon to friends and family in the East. Some settlers carried diseases that struck the Indians. A measles outbreak killed many Cayuses. Indians, angry over the spread of disease attacked the Whitman’s mission and killed the Whitmans and 12 others.

Life On the Oregon Trail Chapter 13, Section 1 Beginning in 1843, wagon trains left an area near Independence, Missouri, every spring and followed trails 2,000 miles west to Oregon. The route became known as the Oregon Trail. People met there and formed themselves into wagon trains. Each group elected leaders. On the trail, people awoke at dawn. Everyone had a job to do. Often people discarded belongings along the way to lighten their wagons. Wagon trains faced many dangers—rain-swollen rivers in the spring, blistering heat in the summer, early snows in the fall. The biggest threat was sickness. Pioneers often traded with Native Americans for food.

Section 1 Assessment Chapter 13, Section 1 The mountain men of the West were known for trapping furs and also for a) crossing the Pacific to sell their furs in China. b) establishing missions among the Native Americans of the Oregon Country. c) making beaver hats. d) exploring the land and showing settlers the way west. The biggest danger pioneers on the Oregon Trail faced was a) Indians. b) illness. c) wheat taller than a man. d) not having enough gear. Want to connect to the American Nation link for this section? Click here.

Section 1 Assessment Chapter 13, Section 1 The mountain men of the West were known for trapping furs and also for a) crossing the Pacific to sell their furs in China. b) establishing missions among the Native Americans of the Oregon Country. c) making beaver hats. d) exploring the land and showing settlers the way west. The biggest danger pioneers on the Oregon Trail faced was a) Indians. b) illness. c) wheat taller than a man. d) not having enough gear. Want to connect to the American Nation link for this section? Click here.

The Republic of Texas Chapter 13, Section 2 Why did American settlers in Texas come into conflict with Mexico? How did the siege of the Alamo become a rallying cry for Texans? How did Texas become an independent nation? What challenges did the Lone Star Republic face?

Americans in Texas Come Into Conflict With Mexico Chapter 13, Section 2 1821 Spain granted an American, Moses Austin, the right to set up a colony in Texas. Mexico gained independence from Spain. Moses Austin’s son Stephen obtained Mexico’s permission to carry out his father’s grant. Austin gathered about 300 families, who began settling in Texas. These settlers agreed to become Mexican citizens and worship in the Roman Catholic Church. 1830 About 20,000 Americans were living in Texas. By this time, few kept the agreement with Mexico. Most felt little loyalty to Mexico. Most were Protestant. Mexico barred any more American settlers. It was feared that Americans would try to make Texas a part of the United States. The Mexican government began to enforce the old law that required Texans to worship in the Catholic Church as well as laws banning slavery.

Americans in Texas Come Into Conflict With Mexico Chapter 13, Section 2 1833 General Antonio López de Santa Anna came to power in Mexico. Two years later he became dictator, a ruler with absolute power and authority. Americans in Texas felt that Santa Anna would drive them from Mexico and that they must do something. 1835 Americans in Mexico had the support of many Tejanos, Mexicans who lived in Texas. The Tejanos wanted Santa Anna out of power. Texans in the town of Gonzales clashed with Mexican troops, forcing the Mexicans to withdraw. Two months later, Texans occupied San Antonio. Santa Anna marched north with a large army. 1836 A group of Texans declared independence for the Republic of Texas and made Sam Houston commander of the army.

Americans in Texas Come Into Conflict With Mexico Chapter 13, Section 2

The Siege of the Alamo Chapter 13, Section 2 By the time Santa Anna reached San Antonio with 6,000 troops, about 150 Texans had taken up positions in an old Spanish mission called the Alamo. The Texans had little ammunition, food, water, or medicine. On February 23, 1836, Mexican troops began a siege—enemy forces try to capture a position by surrounding and bombarding it. The American commander, William Travis, sent a message asking for aid. He sent scouts to find volunteers and food. About 40 men joined the fighters in the Alamo. The siege continued for 12 days. Finally, on March 6, a Mexican cannon shattered the mission walls. Thousands of Mexican soldiers poured over the walls, shouting “Viva Santa Anna!” About 180 Texans and almost 1,500 Mexicans lay dead. The fall of the Alamo ignited cries for revenge. “Remember the Alamo!” became a rallying cry as Texans fought for independence.

Texan Independence Chapter 13, Section 2 A few weeks after the Alamo, Mexican troops killed several hundred Texas soldiers after they had surrendered at Goliad. This action made Texans furious. Sam Houston worked to turn the volunteers into an effective army. On April 21, 1836, Texans surprised Santa Anna and his army near the San Jacinto River. In the Battle of San Jacinto, the outnumbered Texans defeated the Mexicans. The next day, the Texans captured Santa Anna and forced him to sign a treaty granting Texas independence. Texans nicknamed their new nation the Lone Star Republic. They wrote a constitution modeled after the United States Constitution. Sam Houston was elected president of the Republic of Texas.

Texan Independence Chapter 13, Section 2

The Lone Star Republic Faced Challenges Chapter 13, Section 2 The government of Mexico refused to accept the treaty Santa Anna had signed. For Mexicans, Texas was still part of their country. Texas was nearly bankrupt. Comanches and other Indian groups threatened to attack Texan communities. To face these challenges, most Texans thought Texas should become part of the United States. In the United States, people were divided over whether to annex, or add on, Texas. White southerners generally favored the idea. Antislavery northerners opposed it. Andrew Jackson thought annexation would cause war with Mexico; therefore, Congress refused to annex Texas.

Section 2 Assessment Chapter 13, Section 2 One situation that led Texans to rebel against Mexico was that a) Santa Anna had declared himself dictator of Mexico. b) Mexico invited too many Americans to settle in Texas. c) Mexico allowed German and Swiss settlers to move in. d) they let the Alamo’s walls crumble from disuse. When Texas became an independent nation, one problem it faced was that a) it attracted new settlers. b) most Texans opposed slavery. c) it was nearly bankrupt. d) there was no one to act as president. Want to connect to the American Nation link for this section? Click here.

Section 2 Assessment Chapter 13, Section 2 One situation that led Texans to rebel against Mexico was that a) Santa Anna had declared himself dictator of Mexico. b) Mexico invited too many Americans to settle in Texas. c) Mexico allowed German and Swiss settlers to move in. d) they let the Alamo’s walls crumble from disuse. When Texas became an independent nation, one problem it faced was that a) it attracted new settlers. b) most Texans opposed slavery. c) it was nearly bankrupt. d) there was no one to act as president. Want to connect to the American Nation link for this section? Click here.